Wild chariot races, scenes of column-busting combat, and even a doping scandal at the Olympic Games were all watched in Athens late Thursday.
«Asterix at the Olympics» premiered in the Greek capital _ the third installment of France's popular movie series based on the comic books by Rene Goscinny and Albert
Uderzo.
The movie is due for general release Jan. 30, and director Frederic Forestier on Thursday said Uderzo had kept a close eye on the filmmaking.
«While it was being made, he read through the script and joined for as many different parts of the movie as he could,» Forestier said in Athens.
«He is really very happy with the film ... He thinks this adaptation (was) faithful to the spirit of the comic book _ both its images and characters.
Asterix, his obese chum Obelix, their dog Dogmatix and the friendly druid Getafix have starred in more than 30 comic book adventures over five decades as the plucky Gaul fights to keep his corner of France free from the ancient Romans.
In the movie, the Gallic duo takes on the Romans in the Olympic arena to help their love-sick friend Alafolix win the heart of the beautiful Greek Princess Irina, played by model Vanessa Hessler.
There are also brief appearances from basketball star Tony Parker, soccer great Zinedine Zidane and Formula One's Michael Schumacher.
Off the field, the two sides have to contend with corrupt judges and doping allegations surrounding the Gauls' famous magic potion.
Forestier said he hoped the comic's international appeal could draw non-French audience to his 158-minute comedy.
«In the United States, they have a huge range of movies, from blockbusters to small independent productions. But in Europe, it's limited ... we're very enclosed in our own (countries) and this limits us to certain styles of cinema,» he said.
«But because the Asterix comics are so well known, this allows us to make European films which are also in this (more general, international) category.
French actor Gerard Depardieu, who returns as Obelix, said he enjoyed his latest run at comedy.

«I've done comedy before, and this a movie taken from a comic book, so the actions are all exaggerated,» he said.
«I love the character of Obelix. He's a comedian without meaning to be. He doesn't necessarily want to make people laugh. He's fat, he's strong, he's a bit like me.